George I 1720 Five-Guineas, AU55, edge year SEXTO, rarest date for reign

George I (1714-27), gold Five Guineas, 1720, laureate bust right, abbreviated Latin legend with pellet stops surrounding, GEORGIVS.D.G. M. BR. FR. ET. HIB. REX. F. D. translates as "George by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith" toothed border surrounding, rev. crowned cruciform dimidiated emblematic shields, emblematic sceptres in angles, garter star at centre, date either side of top crown, abbreviated Latin legend, .BRVN. ET.L. DVX. S. R. I. A. TH ET. EL. translates as "Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire" toothed border surrounding, edge inscribed in raised letters, DECVS ET TVTAMEN ANNO REGNI SEXTO, translates as "An ornament and a safeguard, in the sixth year of the reign, weight 41.78g (Schneider -; Bull EGC 497; King 154; Holloway 78; M.C.E. 240; S. 3626). Pleasantly toned, some light flecking, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as AU55, the rarest date for George I with only ten examples noted for sale over a 45 year period.

NGC certification 2113951-060 - AU55 Out of a total of 13 grading records across both services only five are graded finer.

King Survey = 10 examples in commerce over the period 1960-2005 - the lowest of this reign, extremely rare.

The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "George, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith" and on the reverse "Duke of Brunswick and Luneberg, High Treasurer and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire."

For the 1720 calendar year, output of gold was £885,859 which would likely have consisted of all four Guinea denominations current at the time.

Provenance:

Ex Spink Coin Auction 165, 8th October 2003, lot 379.